Airborne particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 microns (referred to as PM10) is one of the six criteria pollutants used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as indicator of air quality. During the last decade, the health effects of urban aerosols have become a major concern for the society.
The main environmental problems in Kosovo include all issues related to water supply and sanitation system, air quality, solid waste management and urban infrastructure. The major problem remains high pollutions, energy losses and low collection efficiency. The awareness of environmental issues among the general public is poor. Air quality is degraded by various polluters, including traffic and two big thermal power plants which are located close to the surface lignite deposit in Obiliq. Emission of dust and ash from the thermo power plants exceeds by far the EU standards. Gas emissions have a high level of PM, CO2, SOx, NOx. For coal generation, reducing non-GHG pollutant emissions (SO2, NOx, PM) is significantly important. Additional problems are the ash hills that have more than 40 million tons of ash and are taking about 165 ha of agricultural land, as well as the pits created the coal extraction in the lignite open pit mines.
Fugitive dust from agricultural land affecting air quality within the Columbia Plateau, USA
